The Byzantine Empire By: Abby Waechter and Aryan Ravulapati
Justinian I Justinian I was born in 483 A.C.E in Tauresium, Dardania (near modern day Skopje, located in Macedonia) He was the Byzantine emperor from 527-565, and is recognized for his reorganization of the Byzantine empire, and sponsorship of his code of laws. He died on November 14, 565, at age 83.
Theodora Empress Theodora was married to Justinian I, and was one of the most influential and powerful empresses throughout the Byzantine empire. She came from a humble background, and helped women in the Byzantine empire to be regonized.
Justinian s Conquests The emperor Justinian had the goal of reuniting the Roman Empire under his rule. However, like the Western Roman Empire, the east had to withstand many military attacks. But, emperor Justinian I (527-565) recaptured many of the western regions including: north Africa, southern Spain, Sicily, Italy, and even Rome itself. During the war effort to take back the western part of the empire forced Justinian to raise taxes on the people of the Byzantine Empire. The Roman citizens were angry with Justinian about the high taxes for the war effort, and he became a very unpopular person throughout his empire.
The Conquests of Justinian This map shows the Byzantine Empire before the rule of Justinian I, and after the rule of Justinian I.
The Justinian Code Justinian's legal, administrative, and architectural had produced more lasting results. He produced the Roman system of civil law which were made up into four books known as the Justinian code. His code helped to perpetuate an administration of the great efficiency. Throughout history, the code became the basis for much modern European laws.
Theology in the Byzantine Empire Theology was closely intertwined with politics in the Byzantine empire. Arguments that appeared to concern only theology frequently had political consequences, and Justinian seemed to over-reach.
Monophysites When many Syrian and Egyptian Christians declared themselves Monophysites--- believers that Jesus' nature was ONLY divine, and not human, Justinian oppressed them. Monophysites were the supporters of a doctorine in the early Catholic Church that held that the incarnate Christ possessed a single fully divine nature. They opposed the orthodox view that Christ had a double nature, both human and divine, having to do with his pain and suffering during the passion of Christ, and his divine nature having to do with raising from the dead, and being the Son of God. This religion is known as Eastern Orthodox, and is still practiced today.
Iconoclastic Believers Others believed in iconoclastic beliefs who thought that an "image breaker", ceased to exist, and they reject the veneration of icons. They thought that leaders of the Catholic church should enforce biblical commandment against idol images and the reigning Byzantine emperors supported them. Icons are known as statues, and images.
Sources Emperor Justinian and the Byzantine Empire. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.penfield.edu/webpages/jgiotto/onlinetextbook.c fm?subpage=1679589\ Spodek, H. (2010). The world's history. Prentice Hall. T. (n.d.). The library of original sources. 3. Retrieved from https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433067371280;vi ew